The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-08-26
Why CAN'T | SLEEP ?
A FAMILY DOCTOR.

hour, probably till three or four in, the
morning, Is very far indeed from being in
a satisfactory condition Of health He is
nervously i'll, he is out of sorts both mem
tally and bodily, and the sooner he takes
judicious steps to obtain relief, the better;
because the less chance there Will be Of
his state becoming chronic.
But he must find ont the causes OF his
trouble, and endcavOr 10 remove these;
Tor in cases Of Insomnia, as II Il called by
the profession, OF, in palmer language,
SlceplcSSneSS the treating OF symptoms
alone Is 4 dangerous practice, and wholly
useless. Very often the first deviation
from healthful sleep Is wantonly. though
unwittingly caused by the individual
himself After living down, he gives him
self up to fits OF thinking These max, or
may not, be pleasant enough ut urst, but
the end, if the custom bc not cut short in
time, never fails To become disastrous. L
may admit that the temptation 10 think
in bed ls often difficult to resist. especially
by brain workers; but these persons
ought 10 bear in mind that, by giving
way To it, they are positively weakening
their brain and nerve power, and render
ing themselves less capable OF taking
solid stand III the everyday battle Of life.
The night Is meant 10y nature for re-
pose and sleep, and We cannot thwart
nature or break her rules with any de-
gree OF impunity.
Sleeplessness, probably, in nine cases
ont OF ten, Is caused by continual mental
strain or worry, The capillarics of the
brain become stretched, and lose their
rcsticncy; they are unable, therefore, to
empty themselves of blood when the
hour Of rest comes round, and so wake
fulness continues far into the night, until
the body IS fairly worn out, and sinks
into the lethargy OF exhaustion. 1t viii
be well for people who suffer thus To take
Il holiday at once.
Above all other remedies for slccp,Gss-
ness, place change OF air and change Of
scene, III con junction with plain, nutri-
tOus diet and more natural way Of
living.
Why can l not sleep? II may be that
you really havc-unknown 10 yOu-some
functional arrangement OF the liver, the
stomach, or the heart. II tliS bc re
moved, sleep will return To your pillow,
and with it, health.
Think and consider whether OF late YOU
have given way TO any table indiscrctiuu
that may have affected the liver and
rendered 1t either sluggish or too active.
In these caS,-s, the blood viii in reality
have become poisoned and contaminated
with bile the mind becomes duh and
probably gloomy all day, and oycr-active
towards n!ghtfall.
DO you smoke? Ii so, a return to
habit i overcome.
Exercise in abundance taken during
the day IN the open air is, IN hundreds
Of cases, Il cure ipT SlcculcSSncSS. but this
exercise should not be of a too fatiguing
kind; it should be spread over 4 preat
many hours; it should be pleasant.
calming exercise, and not continued up
to a late hour. Oyer-fatigue must be
carefully avoided. The practice Of
taking stimuiants 10 any extent is very
apt 10 produce slCcplcssness, by keep
ing up an unnatural excitement OF the
brain.
What wish particularly to impress
upon my readers, is the fact that the
causes sofslecplcssness must be sought out
and removed before there bc the slightest
chance or hope OF anything like pcrma-
nent cure.
Then hygiene steps in-for regulation
ofdict, and OF entire and complete method
OF living.
Rise bctimcs, and have that bracing.
cold bath, with a few handfuls OF sea-salt
IN 1t ; eat some fruit before breakfast not
ably prunes, oranges, grapes, or stcwed
apples. Avoid tea and coffee and cigar
allurcment Take no kind OF stimulant.
Avoid fret and care and ovcr-excite-
ment during the day. Determine, II YOU
can, that nothing shall annoy or irritate
you.
a damp under-garmcnt before sitting
down 10 dinner, and, previous 10 redress
ing, II Will be found notwithstanding to
rub the body with cold, wet sponge,
then to dry with Il rough towel
Never eat when fatiGucd. Dine early,
live plainly, taking nothing that Is in the
least likely To disagree with vDu.
Take a good walk about an hour before
retiring Tor the night.
Look upon narcotics in any shape, as
poison.
And now word or two about the bed
room itself. The room should he large,
most cleanly, and free from dust, with o
proper system OF ventilation.
The temperature should be a. pqua BILE
all through the night and though the wear
as possible, from so ID so according 10
age; the old and very Young rcuuirc
more warmth than the young and middle
aged
As to beds ] think the best sleep is
obtained on a wire mattress, over which
Is placed a bed Of horSe-hair several in
cheS IN thickness. On the top Of this.
may be spread two or three blankets,
then the sheet. 1t viii thus bc even and
smooth.
There is no doubt that many people
viii find II far better for their permanent
health to slccp altogether in wool, cspcc-
tally those who OF a rheumatic or
gouty dlathesls, or subject 10 colds and
coughs.
In these cases, the night-shirf should
be woolen; light WOODEN bed-Socks should
be worn, and the sheets should also be Of
wool. Not 50 the pillows, however. he
cause the head should bc kept cool dur
ing sleep, and j would not counsel the
wearing even OF night-caps lar less the
drinking OF them.
No more bcd-clothcs should be worn
than are needed to keep up the tempcra-
turc OF comfort
The pillows should be large and
springy, and not too Welding. They
ought To be covered with the softest and
finest OF linen.
Curtains around the bed are objection
able, for the air one brcathcs at night
cannot be too pure. The bed should be
raised about two feet from the floor We
must not forget that the carbonic acid
which We expire, If not carried away bv
4 JudlclOuS system OF ventilation, lies low.
beng heavier than air.
In conclusion, let me warn al! brafn-
workers who are troubled with wakeful-
ness Ia see 10 their condition without de-
lay. To remain in health Is 4 duty one
owes not only to himself, but 10 his
friends and relations and want OF sui
ticicnt sleep Is more productive OF bodily
trouble than insufficient iDol, Uy meals
taken at irregular houS.
Casseirs Fu.,5y Magazile. :,
4 MANAGER who long had the charge
of the horses of street railroad found
the best ration TO consis, Of equal quanti-
Il -